We are one week away from college football season officially starting. On Thursday September 2nd a few teams will kick off the first weekend of college football a few days early. One of those teams is Central Michigan, who will host Hampton. The Chippewa’s are coming off their most successful football season since joining division 1 in the mid 70’s. A 12-2 record, a top 25 ranking and another MAC title and bowl win. As is the case in today’s college athletics for non BCS conference schools, if you have a good coach, they will not be their long. So just Like Brain Kelly before him, Butch Jones left for Cincinnati and Dan Enos, the former MSU running backs coach, gets the head job at CMU.

Expectations in Mt Pleasant are still high, despite a team who lost it’s starting QB, RB, two best WR, and two of their four best defensive players, CMU fans have been spoiled the last few years with 3 conference titles, and four bowl games in the last 4 years. Another 12-2 season will not happen this year, but that doesn’t mean fans will accept the 3-9 days of Mike DeBord either, which now seems much longer then 6 years ago. For me I would love another conference title, but with a new coach bringing in a new system, and a new QB, I would just be happy with a 7-5 record, a bowl game, beating Western and not getting embarrassed in any games.

The Schedule is not easy, non conference road games at Va Tech, Northwestern, and Navy, plus playing MAC east favorite Temple, and MAC west favorite Northern Illinois both on the road as well will make this a tough test for Coach Enos and company. The chances that the Chippewa’s will once again go undefeated in conference play like last year are slim to none. However, the big rivalry game vs. Western Michigan is at home, and CMU will look to make it 5 wins in a row over its biggest rival, something that will keep the fans happy, even if a MAC title isn’t in the cards this year. However, the Chippewa’s are the champs, and in the words of wrestling great Ric Flair, “to be the man, you got to beat the man.” Well right now, CMU is “the man” in the MAC, and will remain so until someone beats them. Going to Temple in week two will let everyone know where this teams stands. If another MAC title is possible, or if we all should just be happy with a winning record. There has been a lot of talk about the new coach, and new system and what our offense will look like, I haven’t worried about it, because it isn’t anything I have any say over. I’m just happy the wait is almost over, it’s time to lace um up and kick off the 2010 season under the lights in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.